Wednesday, February 13, 2008
New Season
A new season of rugby is about to kick off. With hopes and dreams shattered last year in both the Super 14 and the World Cup, and a dismal showing by Counties Manukau in the Air Pacific Cup, this year holds new hope. My heart is already buoyed by the 7's team and I am hoping for a good show by Auckland this year. I'm going to the game Saturday night. I have my Uncle's season tickets! That's grace and favour right there!!
Worship
I was just helping Phil Maxwell, our Youth Band Leader, prepare a message on worship for our High School ministry and came across this thought which I thought was great:
St. Francis of Assisi once said: “Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words”.
Evangelism is a lifestyle: it’s not a class, it’s not a program, it is not a chore or a hassle. It is an absolute discipline of devotion and love that comes from a heartfelt response to the Good News of Jesus Christ. It’s a “given” for one who has been redeemed from the pit of hell. It may take many forms, but evangelism is a most natural response for the believer to tell others about what Christ has done in your life!
This idea can be extended to illustrate a very relevant principle in terms of worship:
“Worship at all times; if necessary, use music”.
Worship is not a programmme!
Worship is not a plan or a performance.
Worship is not a given set or style of music! Worship is a heart-felt response to a Saviour who has healed, delivered and forgiven us!
St. Francis of Assisi once said: “Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words”.
Evangelism is a lifestyle: it’s not a class, it’s not a program, it is not a chore or a hassle. It is an absolute discipline of devotion and love that comes from a heartfelt response to the Good News of Jesus Christ. It’s a “given” for one who has been redeemed from the pit of hell. It may take many forms, but evangelism is a most natural response for the believer to tell others about what Christ has done in your life!
This idea can be extended to illustrate a very relevant principle in terms of worship:
“Worship at all times; if necessary, use music”.
Worship is not a programmme!
Worship is not a plan or a performance.
Worship is not a given set or style of music! Worship is a heart-felt response to a Saviour who has healed, delivered and forgiven us!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Children's Ministry
Pastor Mark Conner shared this about children's ministry on his blog
"This week I spoke to 800 children's ministry leaders at the Kidshaper Conference in Melbourne. What a buzz! I so appreciate those who minister to children in our local churches. Children's ministry is so vital.
Consider the research:
85% of those who become Christians do so before the age of 15.
Only 1 in 10,000 people come to Christ after the age of 30.
Only 1 in 750,000 come to Christ after the age of 75.
Obviously, no one is unreachable but there is no doubt that people are more open and tender during the early stages of their life.
Missiologists refer to the '10/40 window', that section of our planet where the most unreached people live. We could also refer to the '5/13 window', the ages when people are most receptive to the gospel . Almost 50% of the world's 6 billion+ population are in that window right now. What a mission field we have right here in our local communities.
Well-known evangelist, D.L. Moody was once asked how his evangelistic meeting went. He was reported to have said, "Two and a half people came to Christ tonight." He was asked, "Do you mean two adults and one child?" "No", he replied. "Two children and one adult. The adult's life is half over while the children have their entire life ahead of them."
What a perspective!
Children's ministry is important - to the children, to the family and to the church. I have observed that any healthy growing church is doing children and youth ministry well. Any declining church is usually not.Let's join together to reach out to all generations but especially to the children. After all, Jesus himself loves children and said, "Let the children come!" He also commissioned the Apostle Peter to "feed my ... lambs" ... not just the "sheep".
Our priorities for ministering to children should be: leading them into a relationship with Jesus Christ, helping them discover their purpose in life, and teaching them God's principles for living life to the full.Hug a kid today!"
"This week I spoke to 800 children's ministry leaders at the Kidshaper Conference in Melbourne. What a buzz! I so appreciate those who minister to children in our local churches. Children's ministry is so vital.
Consider the research:
85% of those who become Christians do so before the age of 15.
Only 1 in 10,000 people come to Christ after the age of 30.
Only 1 in 750,000 come to Christ after the age of 75.
Obviously, no one is unreachable but there is no doubt that people are more open and tender during the early stages of their life.
Missiologists refer to the '10/40 window', that section of our planet where the most unreached people live. We could also refer to the '5/13 window', the ages when people are most receptive to the gospel . Almost 50% of the world's 6 billion+ population are in that window right now. What a mission field we have right here in our local communities.
Well-known evangelist, D.L. Moody was once asked how his evangelistic meeting went. He was reported to have said, "Two and a half people came to Christ tonight." He was asked, "Do you mean two adults and one child?" "No", he replied. "Two children and one adult. The adult's life is half over while the children have their entire life ahead of them."
What a perspective!
Children's ministry is important - to the children, to the family and to the church. I have observed that any healthy growing church is doing children and youth ministry well. Any declining church is usually not.Let's join together to reach out to all generations but especially to the children. After all, Jesus himself loves children and said, "Let the children come!" He also commissioned the Apostle Peter to "feed my ... lambs" ... not just the "sheep".
Our priorities for ministering to children should be: leading them into a relationship with Jesus Christ, helping them discover their purpose in life, and teaching them God's principles for living life to the full.Hug a kid today!"
Miskates
"Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from."-Al Franken
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
What will happen to me?
The third most important question is "What will happen to me when I die?" Here are some quotes to help your thinking along these lines:
"Evil can be cast out, not by man alone nor by a dictatorial God who invades our lives, but when we open the door and invite God through Christ to enter. 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.' God is too courteous to break open the door, but when we open it in faith believing, a divine and human confrontation will transform our sin-ruined lives into radiant personalities."
Martin Luther King
Grace – U2
Grace, she takes the blameShe covers the shame
Removes the stainIt could be her name
Grace, it's the name for a girlIt's also a thought that could change the world
And when she walks on the street you can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything
Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma, karma
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work you can hear the strings
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flue for her lipsNo twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition
What once was hurtWhat once was friction
What left a mark no longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace finds goodness in everything
King Solomon. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.”
Famous last words.
General Jon B Sedgwick:“They couldn’t hit an elephant from this distance.”
H.G. Wells“Go away… I’m all right.”
"Evil can be cast out, not by man alone nor by a dictatorial God who invades our lives, but when we open the door and invite God through Christ to enter. 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.' God is too courteous to break open the door, but when we open it in faith believing, a divine and human confrontation will transform our sin-ruined lives into radiant personalities."
Martin Luther King
Grace – U2
Grace, she takes the blameShe covers the shame
Removes the stainIt could be her name
Grace, it's the name for a girlIt's also a thought that could change the world
And when she walks on the street you can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything
Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma, karma
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work you can hear the strings
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flue for her lipsNo twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition
What once was hurtWhat once was friction
What left a mark no longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace finds goodness in everything
King Solomon. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.”
Famous last words.
General Jon B Sedgwick:“They couldn’t hit an elephant from this distance.”
H.G. Wells“Go away… I’m all right.”
Home
I am back from my whirlwind visit of the South Island. I had a great time with Ben Little from Hillsong at The Battlecry Youth Conference held in Dunedin. I spoke at Oamaru CLC on Sunday Morning then up to Timaru for a Youth Leaders meeting and I spoke in their Evening Service.
I have been so inspired by the quality of young people around the South Island. I managed to stop in at Wellington for a couple of hours and caught up with Kellee Teal and baby Ruben.
So good to be home though. I missed Andrea.
I have been so inspired by the quality of young people around the South Island. I managed to stop in at Wellington for a couple of hours and caught up with Kellee Teal and baby Ruben.
So good to be home though. I missed Andrea.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
